Add Feedback | Send this Article | Published 3/07/03

Graphic By: Brandon Faust

1. The Lakers are not done yet. The Lakers have had an ongoing saga all season. Kobe's streak finally ended, and they lost an important game in Seattle. March may prove to be an unkind month to the Lakers since they have more road games than home games.  Also, the stress of having to climb the hill back to .500 may leave them with nothing left in the well when May rolls around. Kobe must learn to work within Phil Jackson's triangle offense.  This has been said ever since he became a full-time starter in 1999. Jordan and Pippen did it and were very successful. Kobe needs to rely on his teammates more. Speaking of team camaraderie, Karl Malone has bad-mouthed Shaq along with others for not jumping at the chance to represent Team USA in '04 Olympics in Athens, Greece. However, Malone needs to realize these three things:
   • O'Neal has already represented America twice in the World Championships and in the Olympics.
   • Shaq has been playing deep into the summer (something Malone hasn't been doing) winning NBA championships. If he wants to take this summer off to get healthy for another run, then that's his business.
   • It's his choice; lay off.

2. Dallas: The Great Pretenders.The Mavericks are a fun, exciting, multinational team that has set the league on fire this year. They have great coaches in the Nelsons and a fiery owner who is willing to spend money to see the team advance. They are a great example of how a team should be run. The problem is this: they aren't physical enough. Lacking a true interior force, it will be tough for them to defeat teams with bigger men. Their current center, Shawn Bradley, is just not going to get it done, and it's a surprise he's lasted this long in the league. The playoffs are gritty, and the stakes are higher than before. The team that has someone who is willing to do the blue-collar work will have an edge. Unfortunately, Dallas doesn't have anyone like that.

3. San Antonio = Consistency. Tim Duncan is quite possibly the most steady and fundamentally sound player in the world. He is a perennial MVP candidate and already has an NBA championship. He is on the short list of players who can beat a team single-handedly. Duncan and the Spurs are peaking at the right time. Coming off one of the most successful road trips in NBA history, the Spurs play the best defense in the West. The ability to win on the road and to play tough defense are the two best qualities to have in the playoffs. There really aren't many bad things to say about the Spurs except for bench scoring.

4. The Kings are still the favorites as far as I'm concerned. At times their defense is not as good as it appears, but no team is more battle-tested and ready than Sacramento. The only thing that could possibly hold them back is Chris Webber's legal trouble. Webber stands to face trial over a booster scandal from his (now erased) days at the University of Michigan. The Kings have a solid frontline of veterans including Vlade Divac, Webber, and new addition this season, Keon Clark. The backcourt of Bobby Jackson and Mike Bibby is among the best in the league, and through scoring and assists, they account for half of the team's points on good nights. No one in the league knows the Lakers as well as the Kings do, and no one has pushed the Lakers to the brink of elimination like the Kings did last year. Considering that fact, they should get them that elusive title this year. I've said it before and I'll say it again, to win championships in the NBA you have to pay your dues. The Kings have waited long enough, and this year they are ready.